Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors of the ovary: a Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Abstract

Objective: To report the natural history and prognosis of the uncommon Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (SLCT) of the ovary.

Materials and methods: A 20-year retrospective review was conducted by the Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (TGOG), including nine tertiary medical centers from different regions in Taiwan. The medical records for 40 cases of ovarian SLCT were collected. Pathology reviews were carried out by a panel of expert pathologists.

Results: After pathological review, 17 patients were subsequently excluded because the pathology slides were unavailable in five cases, and discrepant results from the initial diagnosis were found in 12 cases (34%). For the remaining 23 patients, the median age was 41 years. The most common symptom was irregular vaginal bleeding followed by an abdominal mass or amenorrhea. Most of the tumors were unilateral and confined to the right ovary, with an average size of 8.2 cm. Preoperative serum markers were available for 12 patients and were elevated for three patients. All patients underwent primary surgery. Six patients accepted adjuvant chemotherapy, and bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin were used in four of them. Clinical follow-up information was available in 21 patients with a median of 19 months. Eighty-two percent of patients were alive and free of disease up to the date of the last follow-up. Two patients died of the disease.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the extreme rarity of ovarian SLCT in Taiwan. Histological discordance between the diagnosis and central review proves the need for expertise review before treatment. For an improved understanding of the biological behavior and treatment strategy for this unique tumor, international collaboration is imperative.